Method of producing strands of glass fibers



. 9, 1941. P. MODIGLIANI METHOD OF rnonucme STRANDS OF GLASS FIBERSFiled March 5,1959

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Dec. 9, 1941. P. MODIGLIANI 2,265,186

METHOD OF PRODUCING STRANDS OF GLASS FIBERS Filed March 3, 1939 2Sheets-Sheet 2 27%7, 4w QM Patented Dec. 9, 1941 z.2 s 5,1as mz'rnon orraonocmc sums or GLASS FIBERS Piero Modigliani, Livorno, -Italy,assignor to Owens-Corning Flberglas Corporation, Toledo, Ohio, acorporation of Delaware Application March-3, v1939, Serial No. 259,706

I In Italy March 14, 1938 8 Claims. (Cl. 19-144) The present inventionrelates to a method of drawing and spinning glass particularly whereinthe glass-fibers are accumulated on a sheathing independent of thecylinder of the drawing machine.

In previous methods of spinning glass fibers, as described by applicant,the drawing and winding cylinders from which the fiber mat or felt wasobtained by cutting helicoidally or in the direction of a generatrix,formed an intergal partof the machine. It was thus necessary to treatthe layer or fiber deposited during the drawing on the machine, whichcaused loss of time and interruption of the drawing operation with theattendant inconveniences.

According to the invention the fibers are deposited in the drawing stageso as to be easily removed in the form of a tubular layer.

The tubular fiber stratum is then carried to the machine from which, byhelicoidally cutting, or pneumatic or mechanical stretching, orotherwise, the helicoidal or simply wound mat is transferred to anaccumulating drum or cylinder.

According to one embodiment, the tubular strata of glass fiber aredeposited, not on the cylinder of the machine but on a slightly conicaltube or sleeve which can be easily slid on and withdrawn in the form ofa sheath from the cylinder of the drawing machine, to be stored with itscharge of fiber until it is passed to the machine for forming the mat.

In another embodiment, the tubular layer of glass fiber is formed on thecylinder of the drawing machine on a thin sheet, such as paper of anykind. On withdrawing the tubular stratum the thinner inner sheet followsthe formation of the glass fiber and its function is merely to promotethe sliding action between the surface of the cylinder and the tubularlayer. The consistency or solidity of the tubular stratum is assured bythe crossing of the fibers themselves. Thus a kind of cop or tubularmass of selfsustaining consistency is obtained. The same result may beobtained by forming the cylinder of the drawing machine of a pluralityof segments having sectors adapted to be brought together or removedfrom each other by means of an expanding device operable, for example,by means of a head or the like. After the drawing is completed thesystem of segments or sectors is contracted and the cop or tubular massis liberated, and can thus be carried to the spinning machine proper.

The form of the sleeves or baskets which carry the tubular fiber layermay be conical internally and cylindrical externally. Also, the cop ortubular mass may be conical or cylindrical externally if desired,independently of the form of its internal'bore which may be cylindricalor conical,

iorexample. v

The follo ing spinning operation proper can bedone in any desired mannerfrom the tubular fiber layer thus mounted on a rigid sleeve of fiber,wood, metal or other material, after withdrawalof the latter.

A method consists in progressively and simultaneously cutting thetubular fiber stratum with knives which pass along its generatrices andwhich are located at regular distances, so as to form a number of stripswhich are subjected to a stretching operation. This stretching may bedone mechanically and then the individual strips produce single wicks orstrands which are wound individually on reels or drums. Or, thestretching may be done pneumatically, as described in application forItalian Patent No. 425/2652 of November 5, 1937, or U. S. applicationSerial No. 236,773, filed October 24, 1938, and the strands collectedfrom the stretched strips with parallel fibers may pass onto straightcones externally, or into a hollow cone, or on a disc with spiralchannels. When collected in a hollow cone of bi-conical form, the strandmay be wound again and at once on a rotatable drum the velocity of whichvaries automatically according to the weight of the strand or wickaccumulated in the bi-conical container.

These characteristics and advantages of the invention, and others, areexplained by the description of a construction given by way of exampleonly.

Figure 1 shows the new product obtained in the form of a cop or tubularmass.

Figure 2 shows the method of forming the strands on the machine providedsuccessively with the spindles prepared by drawing on another machine,for example such as that of Italian Patent Reg. No. 428, No. 678, ofMarch 9, 1938, corresponding to my U. S. application Serial .No.259,705, filed March 3, 1939.

Figure 3 shows a conical spindle or bobbin subject to the action of theknives to form strips which are mechanically drawn and wound.

Figure4 is a horizontal sectional view along line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 shows the same system of cutting the tubular mass or receivingdrum of fiber which are stretched by means of injector nozzles andcollected on straight solid cones.

Figure 6 shows diagrammatically a system for collecting the strandsproduced by pneumatic stretching. with apparatus for automaticallywinding the collected strands.

Figure '7 shows the arrangement of the nozzle to be collected by meansof the Jet of air-from the injectors, before being passed to a windingbobbin.

Referring specifically to the drawing:

In Figure 1, I is the tubular glass fiber stratum deposited on a hollowtubular member which is slightly conical so as to be easily slid on thecylinder, which also may be slightly conical, of the drawing machine,for example as shown in Figure 2. Each individual fiber or filamentgoing to make up the glass fiber stratum is continuous and assuming thatsuch fibers are unbroken their length will be dependent upon thethickness of the stratum deposited on the tubular member. The slightlyconical tubular member I, formed of wound glass fibers, need not beprovided with the conical tubular core when its consistency is such asto assure complete stability or indetormability during the periods ofproduction, storage and transport. A thin sheet of paper, cardboard orother material, or the expansion of the machine cylinders, is thensufilcient to facilitate insertion and withdrawal.

Figure 2 shows the knife 2 which cuts the tubular mass i into ahelicoidal strip which may then be drawn as described, for example, in

Italian Patent No. 351,056, to which corresponds U. S. applicationSerial No. 204,444, filed April 26, 1938.

According to Figure 3, the tubular mass I is cut progressively by theknives I, 3', 3", 3" (Figure 4), forming four strips 8, s, s", s', eachabout one-fourth as wide as the periphery of the tubular mass. Eachstrip forms a wick or strand S", S, S, S'. The stretching andparalleling of the crossed fibers on the tubular mass l is realizedmechanically by pairs of rollers R, R; and Ba, R'a. The strands S", S, Sand S'" are wound on drums T", T, T, T', respectively.

Corresponding to this mechanical stretching arrangement shown in Figures3 and 4, is shown a pneumatic stretching arrangement in Figure 5, inwhich a battery of four injector nozzles such as 6, 6', etc. take fromthe tubular mass l the strips formed by the knives 3, 3', 3", 3 whichprovide the strands I, 1" deposited on straight cones 4, 5, etc.

To obtain an accumulation of the strands, use may be made of the systemshown in Figure 6 wherein the strand I is passed into a vessel- 8 in theform of a bi-conical amphora, which presses on a spring M and actuates alever l which acts through a rod I! on the crank ll of an internalchange speed system I2 acting on the transmission shaft actuated by amotor H which sets a winding drum 9 in movement. This diagram shows thatthe greater the weight of the mat deposited in the vessel 8, which isprovided with an upper inlet and a lower outlet, the greater is thespeed at which the winding drum 9 rotates, for the purpose ofestablishing equilibrium between the source of continuous production ofthe strand in the nomle 6 and the apparatus for collecting the strand onthe drum 8.

Figure 'I shows the nozzle 8 arranged on its horizontal axis to collectthe strand deposited on a table 20. The pe it serves to pass the strand1 into the bi-conical vessel disposed on its vertical axis. A rapidrotational movement may also be imparted to the member 8 to apply thestrip I along its interior walls by means of centritugal force.

Figure 8 shows that the nozzle 6 may pass the strip or strand into aspiral passage formed in the receiving drum i6 adapted to be coveredwith the lid I9. -The air'passing through the spiral passages l'lcarries the strand therein to the centre Z from which it can bewithdrawn. The receiving drum It may also serve as a storage reservoirfor the collected strip or mat, like the bi-conical member 8.

Summarizing: The cops or tubular mass mounted on a light core areadapted for an infinite'variety of uses, for spinning on a machineindependent of the drawing machine and by methods entirely independentof difiicult and imperative conditions prevailing during the productionof the fiber. The slightly conical form of the tubular mass permits itto be easily inserted by stretching the narrowest part of the cop ortubular mass.

The materials used for the light hollow core forming the support of thetubular mass may be of the most widely varied kind, but those which arelighter and stronger are, of course, preferable.

The invention is described and shown by way of example only,'it beingunderstood that numerous modifications may be provided without departingfrom the scope of the invention, which is also applicable to thehandling of other artificial fibers having physical characteristicssimilar to glass.

What is claimed is:

1. The steps in the method of drawing and spinning threads of artificialfibers which consists of accumulating the drawn fibers in aselfsustaining body in the form of a mat and detachable from the drawingmachine, trans- Ierring the body bearing the mat of artificial fibers tothe spinning machine, cutting the mat of artificial fibers into strips,and spinning the fibrous threads therefrom.

2. The method of drawing and spinning strands of artificial fibers whichcomprises accumulating the drawn fibers on a detachable member on thedrum of a winding machine in the form of a mat, stripping the memberfrom the drum of the winding machine and mounting it on a spinning drum,cutting the mat into strip form, and stretching the strips into fibrousstrands.

3. The method of drawing and spinning strands of artificial fibers whichcomprises accumulating the drawn fibers on a detachable member on thedrum of a winding machine in the form of a mat, stripping themember'from the drum of the winding machine .and mounting it on aspinning drum, cutting the mat into strip form, mechanically stretchingthe strips into fibrous strands, and collecting the strands on drums.

4. The method of drawing and spinning strands of artificial fibers whichcomprises accumulating the drawn fibers on a detachable member on thedrum of a winding machine in the form of a mat, stripping the memberfrom the drum of the winding machine and mounting it on a spinning drum,cutting the mat into strip form, pneumatically stretching the stripsinto fibrous strands, and collecting the strands.

5. The method of drawing and spinning strands of artificial fibers whichcomprises accumulating the drawn fibers on a detachable member on thedrum of a winding machine in the form of a mat, stripping the memberfrom the drum of the winding machine and mounting it on a spinning drum,cutting the mat into strip form, stretching the strips into fibrousstrands. and collecting the strands ondrums at a rate corresponding tothe rate of formation of the strands.

6. The method of drawing and spinning a strand of artificial fiberswhich comprises accumuiatlng the drawn fibers on a detachable member onthe drum of a winding machine in the form of a mat, stripping the memberfrom the drum of the winding machine and mounting it on a spinning drum,cutting the mat into strip-form, pneumatically stretching the strip intoa fibrous strand, and collecting the strand on the exterior of a conicalbody.

7. The method of drawing and spinning strands of artificial fibers whichcomprises accumulating the drawn fibers on a detachable member on thedrum of a winding machine, stripping the member from the drum of thewinding machine and mounting it on a spinning drum, cutting the mat intostrip form. stretching the strip into a fibrous strand, collecting thestrand in a hollow bi-conicaily shaped space. and withdrawing the storedstrand from the storage space for winding upon a drum at a rateconforming to the rate of collection of the strand in the storage space.

8. The method of drawing and spinning threads of artificial fibers whichcomprises accumulating the .drawn fibers on a detachable member on thedrum of a winding machine in the form of a mat, stripping the memberfrom the drum of the winding machine and mounting it on a spinning drum,cutting the mat into strip form, pneumatically stretching the strip intoa fibrous strand, and collecting the strand in a spiral passage formedby complementary disc elements.

PIERO MODIGLIANI.

